Baldwin-Wallace College sustainability initiatives

Submitted by David Beach  |  Last edited June 27, 2008 - 4:42pm
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Geothermal field heats and cools Ernsthausen HallOver the past 2 years, Baldwin-Wallace has made much progress in beginning intentional sustainability initiatives.

Curriculum

  • New interdisciplinary sustainability major planned to start in the fall of 2008
  • Environmental studies minor
  • Annual summer faculty teaching workshop on sustainability that integrates sustainability concepts into courses across the curriculum
  • Courses in Green Business

College Committee(s)

  • B-W has a Sustainability Committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students that reports to the president. The committee has created a sustainability mission for the college.

Green Building

  • Ernsthausen Hall is the first and only dorm in Ohio with geo-thermal heating and cooling.
  • Commitment to green building design in all future college building projects

Purchasing

  • B-W is shifting to green cleaning products and has already saved nearly $100,000 by doing so

Energy

  • Motion sensors have been installed in all classrooms
  • Photoluminescent exit signs have replaced exits signs lighted by light bulbs
  • Wind Energy Potential: B-W has received funding to explore the possibility of installing Ohio’s first wind turbine on a college campus

Food

  • Biodegradable disposables are used in B-W’s food services

Transportation

  • B-W is experimenting with the conversion of used kitchen grease for the production of bio-diesel fuel for campus vehicles
  • Bike racks: The campus has increased availability of bike racks around campus to discourage vehicle use

Waste

  • B-W has reduced their paper consumption by 40% by making double-sided printing default on all campus printers as well as capping the number of free pages students get each semester
  • A composter has been installed that will take all food services food waste out of the waste stream
  • An enhanced recycling system has been implemented with the result of increasing recycling content by at least 500%

Events

  • Two-day symposium on sustainability October 20-21, 2008. More info coming soon!

Contact
Dr. David Kruger
Charles E. Spahr Chair in Managerial and Corporate Ethics, Professor of Business Administration
Baldwin-Wallace College
275 Eastland Rd.
Berea, OH 44017
440-826-5923
dkrueger@bw.edu

Student Group(s)

Has the President of the College signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment?

No